What to Expect at the RMC

The Radical Mycology Convergence is largely an outdoor event. We are not corporately sponsored, nor are we charging a large fee for the event’s overhead. Thus, the feel and infrastructure for the event

The Radical Mycology Convergence is largely an outdoor event. We are not corporately sponsored, nor are we charging a large fee for the event’s overhead. Thus, the feel and infrastructure for the event is minimal-esque. We will have sanitation and water needs covered. And the land will be prepped (via volunteers) to make the space comfortable but many of the workshops will occur in (covered) outdoor spaces, regardless of the weather. We want people to be prepared for this and assess their level of comfort with camping, etc.

The ethos and topic matter of the RMC draws people of all backgrounds, political stances, and lifestyles. Thus we encourage all participants to come to the RMC with an open mind and an excitement to learn from others. Please see our Anti-Oppression Policy below.

Also, here are a few other tidbits to know before arriving.

The landowners request no animals (including dogs) or RVs / campers on the land.

We are currently not sure how wheelchair accessible the land will be. We will update with that information as we figure it out.

Many of the workshops will take place outside. Be prepared for all weather conditions.

Once registered you will receive a confirmation email with directions to the site and other info about the event.

About The Land

This 240 acre farm is situated at the base and extends up the western slope of the Taconic Ridge. It lies in a river valley near the New York and Connecticut border in the southeastern corner of Dutchess County.

Diverse intersections of mixed hardwood and coniferous woods, waterways, pasture, floodplain and riparian forests converge here. Various stages of ecological succession and human management represent a dynamic container for both the cultivated and wild.

At the center of the space lies a beautiful and well preserved old farm house, as well as several small cottages and barns. The property is held by Preston Mountain, Ten Mile Hill and Gardner’s Hill on three sides, with the sun setting over the Ten Mile river to the west.

The wooded hilltops surrounding were once cleared to house signal fires and camp sites for the Native Americans who settled on the hillsides. Prayer, burial, hunting and home happened here.

After European settlement, the land continued to evolve. Centuries of agrarian activity from animal husbandry and other forms of farming have etched the space into its current form. Standing among it all one can hear whispers of stories teeming beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered.

Today the farm is being developed into a rural and agrarian learning center. This will be a place where one can work directly with the land, developing deeper connections through hands-on learning experiences around food and farming. Promoting interdependence rather than separation is how we will ultimately heal the land and ourselves.

Meals at the RMC

Drug/Alcohol Policy

The RMC is a drug-free event. Alcohol will be allowed but we ask that people drink responsibly and to keep the drinking family friendly and appropriate.

Anti-Oppression Policy

In order to create a safe and productive environment for learning and building community, the organizers of the Radical Mycology Convergence (RMC) have established a zero tolerance policy toward oppressive behavior. This policy is not a means to punish people for their behavior. Rather, it is a means by which an individual can work with other in order to begin overcoming the socialization that is the root cause of their oppressive behavior in the first place. Oppressive behavior is herein defined as behavior that demeans, marginalizes, threatens or rejects people because of some personal characteristic that harms no one and can’t be readily or justifiably changed. Such traits may include a person’s age, gender, ethnicity, religion, mental health, race, culture, sexual orientation, general appearance, income, living situation, experience in social or mycological work, or being a parent or a child.

A conflict mediation team will be available to support the emotional well-being of the event participants, and to assist with resolving conflicts should they arise. The conflict mediation team and the RMC organizers reserve the right to ask anyone to leave who is exhibiting behaviors that compromise the success and safety of the Radical Mycology Convergence.